Stater Bros. to Focus on Building Volume

COLTON, Calif. -- Stater Bros. Markets here expects to focus on building volume while holding margins in check as much as possible, Jack Brown, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said here yesterday. “We're always looking at cost cutting,” he said, “but we'll probably reach more for volume to generate another point or two in sales.” Brown made his remarks during a conference call to discuss financial results for the 13-week first quarter ending Dec. 24 that saw net income increase 200% to $9.9 million and sales climb 4.3% to $904.1 million. With the quarter ending the day before Christmas, there was one more selling day in this year's first quarter than in the first quarter of 2006, which added $12.1 million in sales. Adjusting for the extra day, the company said same-store sales rose 1.4%. -- Elliot Zwiebach